Gordon Austen

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M., Saturday, December 6, 2008, at First Christian Church, Decatur, IL. Visitation will be 4 to 7 P.M., Friday, December 5, 2008, at Brintlinger & Earl Cerro Gordo Funeral Home, Cerro Gordo, IL and one hour prior at the church on Saturday. Burial will be at a later date.Gordon was born July 11, 1942, in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada. He attended Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta, Canada. Gordon married Sharon Gail McKenna on April 28, 1968 in Union Lake, Michigan, and they were happily married for the last 40 years, residing in Central Illinois for the past 11 years. Gordon was the loving father of daughters Heather Huffman (husband Charlie) of Lovington, IL and Deborah Harden (husband Glen) of Cisco, IL. He was the wonderful Papa Gordon to his 9 special grandchildren Kalee, Mycah, Ashlyn, Austen, Richard Jr., Jesse, Benjamin, Trish and Alyssa. Gordon leaves behind an older brother James Austen in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Gordon was the Pastor of Mandon Lake Community Church and Chaplain of the White Lake Police Dept. in Union Lake, Michigan for 10 years; the Pastor at Kasbeer Community Church, Kasbeer, Illinois for 9 years; the Pastor at La Place Church of the Brethren, La Place, Illinois for 3 years and the Assistant Pastor at the Oakley Brick Church in Oakley, Illinois for 1 year.Gordon suffered with heart problems since he had his first open heart surgery at the age of 23 in 1965, living 40 years with an artifical heart valve before requiring open heart surgery again in 2005 and several cardiac interventions since. He spoke highly of his physicians Dr. Kris Patel and Dr. John Waters of DMH and Dr. Nicholas Kouchoukos of Missouri Baptist Medical Center, considering them friends.After retiring from active ministry, Gordon worked part time as a service station attendant at Prices Service in Cerro Gordo, Illinois until it closed, a job he loved so much because it allowed him to spend time with people. He also enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren; he loved reading, fishing, camping, hunting, working on cars and helping those around him. He loved to talk to everyone, and he was also an amazing listener. He had a way of making others feel comfortable and special, always lending a hand to anyone he could.Everyone that met Gordon was touched in some way. And for everyone who shared in his life, he made it abundantly clear how grateful he was to them. He was generous and giving beyond comprehension. And though monetary gain and influence by power were never characteristics he sought after, he left a far greater legacy to all those around him and instilled it in his familys hearts - that God is love and He loves us and nothing now or ever can change that. He knew God and was able to carry this message to everyone he met without force or intimidation. It was just a part of who he was and all of what he believed in. He was a great man of honor, living his life exactly how he believed. And for all of us who knew and loved him, we know we will see him again. And on that day all sadness and pain will fall away, and we will be with him forever in paradise. You are dearly loved and missed. Your life is a treasure, and you will never be forgotten.Condolences may be left to the family at www.brintlingerandearl.com. "
}